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Decree in Slovakia: what Ukrainians need to know

Decree in Slovakia: what Ukrainians need to know
Editor-in-Chief
287901/06/2025
In short

In Slovakia, Ukrainians who are officially employed and have at least 270 days of sickness insurance in the last two years can receive maternity, paternity, and parental leave with corresponding payments. Maternity leave lasts 34 weeks (with possible extensions), paternity leave lasts 14 days, and parental leave lasts up to the child's third birthday. To apply, you need to get a form from your Gynekológ (gynecologist), agree on it with your employer, and submit it to Sociálna poisťovňa (Social Insurance Agency).

  1. 1. What types of maternity leave are available?
Planning to have a baby abroad can bring up many questions. Slovakia has a system of state support for parents, which includes maternity, paternity, and parental leave. In this article, you will learn about the types of leave available, who is eligible, how long the payments last, and how to arrange everything.   

What types of maternity leave are available?

 

Maternity leave (materská dovolenka)

  • Duration: 34 weeks (37 for single mothers, 43 if giving birth to 2+ children).
  • Start: 6–8 weeks before the due date.
  • Payment: approximately 75% of your average monthly salary before taxes (gross), calculated from the previous year. For example, if your gross salary was €1,200, you will receive about €900 per month. However, there is a limit: even if you earned more, the maximum benefit amount cannot exceed €2,186 per month (data for 2025).
Condition: To be eligible for maternity benefit, you must have been insured in the sickness insurance system for at least 270 days in the last two years before the start of maternity leave. This means you had official employment or were registered as a self-employed person (živnostník) and regularly paid social security contributions. Periods when you were not working or not paying contributions do not count.  

Paternity leave (otcovská dovolenka)

  • Available since November 2022.
  • Duration: 14 days within the first 6 weeks after birth.
  • Payment: is 75% of the father's average salary (gross), calculated from the previous calendar year. 
If, for example, the father earned €1,400 gross per month, the payment for 14 days will be approximately €490. Important: the amount is also limited – the maximum you can receive is up to €2,186 calculated for a full month, meaning about €1,021 for 14 days. The money is paid through Sociálna poisťovňa (Social Insurance Agency) to the father's bank account.  

Parental leave (rodičovská dovolenka)

  • Duration: up to the child's 3rd birthday. If the child has a disability, a long-term unfavorable health condition, or has been officially placed for adoption, the benefit may be provided up to age 6.
  • Payment:
    • €482.30 per month — if one of the parents was eligible for maternity benefit (materské), even if they did not receive the full amount. This eligibility must relate to the specific child for whom the parental benefit is requested.
    • €351.80 per month — if neither parent was eligible for maternity benefit (e.g., did not pay contributions or was not insured).
  • If twins or more children are born at the same time — the amount increases by 25% for each additional child.
 

Additional benefits for parents:

  • Childbirth grant (

Sources

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Frequently asked questions

People who were insured in the sickness insurance system for at least 270 days in the two years before the start of maternity leave are eligible. This means they were officially working or self-employed and paid contributions.+
Who is eligible for maternity pay in Slovakia?
Maternity leave lasts 34 weeks (37 weeks for single mothers, 43 weeks for mothers giving birth to two or more children). The payment is about 75% of the average gross salary, but no more than €2,186 per month.+
What is the duration and amount of maternity leave?
You need to get the form 'Žiadosť o materské' (Application for Maternity Benefit) from your gynecologist 6–8 weeks before the birth. Then, agree on it with your employer and submit it to Sociálna poisťovňa (Social Insurance Agency) in person, by mail, or online.+
How to apply for maternity leave in Slovakia?
You need an ID card or passport, a residence permit, the child's birth certificate with a certified translation, and the completed application form 'Žiadosť o rodičovský príspevok' (Application for Child-Care Benefit).+
What documents are needed to receive child-care benefit?
Yes, people with temporary protection status can receive monthly child-care payments if they are officially employed.+
Can people with temporary protection status receive child-care benefits?

Updated 29 July 2026

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